LEGISLATIVE FELLOWS PROGRAM FOR SOUTH AFRICANS

PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT

The Legislative Fellows Program (LFP) for South Africans Leaders is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State; implemented by Africa Governance Transformation in South Africa and Appalachian State University in the U.S.

The goals of LFP are to strengthen South Africa's democracy, assist in the empowerment of mid-level government professionals, and enhance technical skills and institution-building capacity for South African legislative professionals. The target groups are the KwaZulu- Natal provincial parliament and the National Parliament, as well as local government professionals in KwaZulu-Natal.

LFP is implemented in three phases. Phase I of LFP consists of pre-departure orientation and seminars in South Africa. In Phase II, 30 South Africans travel to the U.S. to participate in a four-week individualized internship program at the U.S. Congress, North Carolina State Assembly, or various county and municipal governments. Phase III of LFP consists of follow-on activities which will take place in South Africa, as well as alumni outreach and engagement activities. During this phase, a group of 10 U.S. professionals/mentors travel to South Africa for one-on-one consultation and assessment of the implementation of action plans developed in Phase II.

The Legislative Fellows Program Provides:

• J-1 visa support; • A pre-departure orientation in South Africa; • Orientation seminars; • Round-trip airfare to and within the U.S.; • Welcome orientation in Boone, North Carolina; • Housing accommodation (with American families); • Accident and sickness insurance; • Daily allowance for meals and incidentals; and • Internship placement and supervision.

Eligible Applicants Must:

• Between 25 to 35 years old; • Have at least 2 to 5 years of professional experience working at local government, provincial parliament, or national parliament; • Have a university degree; • Speak and write English fluently; • Possess leadership abilities and a commitment to participation in the political or policy-making processes through involvement in civic activities, citizen advocacy groups, political campaigns, political parties, or election related activities; • Be a citizen of South African (dual citizens are not eligible).

To Apply:

Application materials for LFP can be downloaded from www.agtsa.co.za. Complete application packet should be submitted to:

Legislative Fellows Program Africa Governance Transformation (AGT) Suite 18E, Lillies Quarter 12 Old Main Road, Hillcrest-Durban 3610 Phone: (031) 765 4722 E-mail: [email protected]

(Completed applications should be received at AGT office by 6th November 2009)